What’s On in London: October 2026 | A Guide for International Students

October has arrived, which means autumn is about to make its dramatic entrance in London. Watch as the leaves turn fiery reds and golds – before gathering at your feet for that perfect October crunch.

This is one of the best times to explore the city’s beautiful Royal Parks (maybe on the upcoming half marathon?) or beat the chill by touring some of the amazing exhibitions being unveiled this month.

And don’t forget: it’s not October without a spooky treat (or two), so stay tuned for our 2026 guide to Halloween in London! 🎃

Here’s our pick of the best things to do in London this month 🍂

🌫️CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT: The Big Smoke

Imagine: you arrive in London for the first time and see... not Big Ben, not the Tower of London, but a huge cloud of smoke hanging over the whole city. Not exactly the image you have of one of the world’s most iconic capitals.

Yet this is where London’s most famous nickname comes from. ‘The Big Smoke’ refers to the thick pollution that once hung over the capital, particularly during the Industrial Revolution.

Victorian London was famously dark and grimy, with writers like Charles Dickens frequently depicting the capital as murky and foggy in works like Great Expectations and Oliver Twist.

Thankfully, London today is much less grey. After a particularly deadly smog – known as the Great Smog – in 1952, Parliament passed the Clean Air Act, the world’s first major environmental law targeting air pollution.

A breath of fresh air... literally. 🌤️

🏙️ OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

• London Film Festival, Oct 7th to 18th – Watch your new favourite film, listen to fascinating talks, and get into the cinema spirit at venues across London.
• London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, Oct 21st to Nov 1st – This year’s festival is curated by pop superstar and bookworm, Dua Lipa, with talks from Patti Smith, Malorie Blackman, and Zadie Smith – plus an array of inspiring poetry and writing workshops.
• Matsuri Festival in Trafalgar Square, Oct 4th – Immerse yourself in Japanese culture at London’s own matsuri, or ‘festival’ in English. Expect martial arts, cosplay, sumo, delicious food, and lots of traditional dancing.
• Royal Parks Half Marathon, Oct 11th – Join thousands of runners through four of London’s eight Royal Parks.
• Chelsea History Festival at Chelsea Physic Garden, Oct 3rd – Grab free entry to London’s oldest botanic garden for a day of history, culture, and fresh air. 
• Frieze London at Regent’s Park, Oct 14th to 18th – Get your art fix at one of the world’s major contemporary art fairs, or explore free sculptures in Regent’s Park until November 1st.
• London Month of the Dead, Oct 1st to Nov 1st – London Month of the Dead has once again risen from the dead to shine a light on the capital’s darker side, from historic cemeteries to ghost story performances.
• Kew Gardens Night Trail, Oct 16th to Nov 1st – Encounter mystical creatures, glowing pumpkins, and spooky surprises along Kew Gardens’ illuminated Halloween trail.
• London Oktoberfest at Finsbury Park, Oct 1st to 3rd – London’s biggest Oktoberfest will soon take over Finsbury Park with Bavarian beer, bratwurst, and live music. Prost!
• Bloomsbury Festival, Oct 1st to 31st – Head to London’s cultural quarter for up to 130 events celebrating arts, culture, and science.
• Silk Road Festival at Embassy Gardens, Oct 3rd to Dec 12th – Discover musical traditions along the famous ancient trade route, blending classical, folk, and modern music genres in a series of fusion performances.

🖼️ EXHIBITIONS

• The 90s: Art and Fashion at the Tate Britain, Oct 8th to Feb 14th – Enjoying the 90s revival? Discover a selection of photography, fashion, art, and design from the era of grunge and Tamagotchi.
• Painting the French Riviera at the Royal Academy of Arts, Oct 2nd to Jan 31st – Be transported to 19th and 20th-century France through more than 160 paintings, sculptures, travel posters, and films.
• Renoir and Love at the National Gallery, Oct 3rd to Jan 31st – Add some warm fuzzies to your spooky season with 40 of Renoir’s loveliest paintings of Paris. Ooh la la.
• Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Oct 20th to Jan 17th – See Mount Fuji’s elusive peak in this special exhibition of the 19th-century Japanese artist. Clear weather not required.
• Light and Magic at the Tate Modern, Oct 14th to Feb 21st – Rethink what you know about photography at this exhibition of 200 rare prints from across the world.
• Salman Toor: Someone Like You at the Courtauld, Oct 2nd to Jan 10th – Enter Salman Toor’s trippy worlds rooted in queer and immigrant experiences.
• History of Korea at the British Museum, Oct 1st to Jan 31st – Travel through 2,000 years of Korean art and treasures, from intricate ink paintings to ancient stoneware.

📖 BLACK HISTORY MONTH

October is Black History Month in the UK – a time to celebrate Black history, culture, and achievements.

• Black History Tour of the British Museum, Oct 11th – Explore the museum’s collections from historic societies of Africa with an expert guide.
• The Music is Black: A British Story at V&A East, until Jan 10th – Be taken on a journey through 125 years of Black British music in this immersive sound experience.
• Black History Walks, Oct 3rd and 25th – Museums not for you? Learn history through expert-led walking tours through Mayfair and the West End.

🎭 LONDON THEATRE

• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? At Sohoplace, until Dec 19th – Not us; especially when West End legend Gillian Anderson is in the lead.
• The Lives of Others at Adelphi Theatre, Oct 14th to Jan 9th – See Keira Knightly in this gripping reflection on art, surveillance, and politics during the Cold War.
• The Cherry Orchard at Harold Pinter Theatre, Oct 3rd to Jan 9th – Watch Chekhov’s poignant tragicomedy in this brand-new production.
• End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland at the Barbican, Oct 8th to 11th – HarukiMurakami’s mesmerising novel comes to life in the author’s signature dreamlike, fragmentary style.
• My Neighbour Totoro at Gillian Lynne Theatre, until Jan 3rd – See the big, friendly forest spirit before he retires in this enchanting puppet stage adaptation of the classic Ghibli film.

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